About this trip

Ravishingly beautiful and enchanting to explore, you'll soon learn why the Irish say if you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough… Visit the Ring of Kerry and unspoilt region of Western Ireland featured in John Wayne's 'The Quiet Man'. See the stronghold of the O'Donnell Clan and beautiful Dingle Peninsula, as well as Adare, one of Ireland's prettiest villages.

Sightseeing Highlights

City tour in Dublin

Orientation of Waterford, Killarney, Limerick, Galway and Donegal

Visit the Glasnevin Trust in Dublin, Famine Ship in New Ross, the crystal showroom at Waterford, Blarney to kiss the stone and gain the 'gift of the gab', Adare, Bunratty folk park, Cliffs of Moher, the rugged Burren, mystical Connemara, Kylemore Abbey, the Marian Shrine at Knock and County Donegal

View St. Patrick's Cathedral and Phoenix Park in Dublin, King John's Castle and St. Mary's Cathedral in Limerick and Donegal Castle

See the Cathedral of Galway

Scenic drives along the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula

What's Included

Dining

9 full breakfasts

5 dinners

1 cream tea
(Be My Guest)

What's Included

Travel Highlights

Audio Headsets for flexible sightseeing

Daily breakfast and an average of 50% of evening meals

Luxury air-conditioned coach with WiFi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)

Spend the morning relaxing and enjoying the sights of Dublin. Later meet your fellow travellers and Travel Director for a sightseeing tour of this wonderful city with a Local Specialist. This evening visit Glasnevin Trust for an informative and poignant tour with a Local Specialist where you will hear stories about some of the brave characters from recent Irish history. Enjoy a Welcome Reception of drinks and canapés and get to know your fellow travellers.

Head through scenic Co. Wicklow known as The Garden of Ireland and on to New Ross - the ancestral home town of John F. Kennedy. Visit the Dunbrody Famine Ship to gain a Cultural Insight into the plight of Irish Emigrants. Later arrive in Waterford and see how the famous crystal is crafted during your guided tour of the visitor centre to gain a Cultural Insight.

Hotel

Dooleys

Meals

Full Breakfast

Dinner

Hotel

Dooleys

Meals

Full Breakfast

Dinner

Optional Experiences

Irish Folk Fun

During this evening of entertainment, you'll get the chance to experience Irish hospitality in the best folk tradition. Enjoy a drink while locals sing and play music for you.

Adult Price: €27.00

Explore Waterford's Viking History

Join us in Waterford, where the history dates back as far as the Vikings. Your Local Specialist will bring the historic area to life through stories and anecdotes; one guest even described the trip as the "best history lesson ever".

Travel via the historic seaport town of Youghal, once home to Sir Walter Raleigh. At Blarney, gain the 'gift of the gab' as you have a chance to kiss the famous stone. Arrive later in Killarney, your home for the next two nights.

Hotel

Dromhall

Meals

Full Breakfast

Dinner

Hotel

Dromhall

Meals

Full Breakfast

Dinner

Day 3

Day 4

Ring of Kerry ExcursionDay 4 - Ring of Kerry Excursion

Today we experience Ireland's most scenic coastal drive around the Iveragh Peninsula, better known as the Ring of Kerry. It is undoubtedly one of the most magical and varied places in the whole of Ireland and is truly a photographer's delight. We will also see Daniel O'Connell's Cahirciveen, the fishing village of Waterville, the Black Valley and Moll's Gap. Here mountains, valleys, lakes and sea blend into a landscape that is often breathtaking beyond words.

Meals

Full Breakfast

Meals

Full Breakfast

Optional Experiences

Irish Ceilidh Evening

The Irish Ceilidh epitomises how music and dance were enjoyed in rural Ireland, especially on festive occasions. The craic - welcoming, jolly, fun and informal - is accompanied with plenty of food and drink. There's no more enjoyable way to understand Irish culture.

Adult Price: €64.00

Experience a Jaunting Cart Ride

Enjoy a traditional pony and trap ride through the beautiful Bourn-Vincent National Park. During your journey, your Local Specialist will share fascinating anecdotes about the area and Ireland.

Adult Price: €21.00

Visit Muckross House and its Gardens

Come with us to Muckross House and its beautiful gardens. With a backdrop of oak-clad mountains, enjoy taking in the towering azaleas and rhododendrons as you meander along the shores of the lakes. The 18th century house contains some wonderful examples of furniture and paintings, including a portrait of King James VI, for whom Shakespeare wrote Macbeth.

Explore the beauty of the Dingle Peninsula with its small fishing towns and rugged landscape. Visit Adare, one of the prettiest villages in Ireland. Your orientation of Limerick includes views of St. Mary's Cathedral, King John's Castle and the Treaty Stone.

Hotel

Greenhills

Meals

Full Breakfast

Hotel

Greenhills

Meals

Full Breakfast

Optional Experiences

Irish Ceilidh Evening

Come along and experience the craic at a special ceilidh evening. Enjoy a drink and some local specialities, watch some traditional Irish dancing, and sing along to some familiar Irish melodies.

This morning enjoy an included visit to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park dedicated to life in Ireland during the 18th and 19th century. Visit the magnificent Cliffs of Moher and see the history of the cliffs brought to life with a visit to the 'Atlantic Edge' exhibition. Later arrive in Galway with free time to see the Cathedral or stroll through Eyre Square.

This unspoilt region of Western Ireland is captured in the film 'The Quiet Man' featuring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Today see the untouched landscape of the Connemara with its picturesque mountain ranges and golden beaches that stretch out into the Atlantic. During your scenic drive, stop at Kylemore Abbey for an included visit to the country's most romantic castle and walk through the Victorian Walled Garden. Travel on to Westport House for a memorable Be My Guest experience. Enjoy a welcome drink in the impressive drawing room which features James Wyatt's 19th century sky ceiling and an impressive original parquet floor. After a guided tour of the house you will be hosted for a delicious afternoon tea in the restored Victorian kitchens

Meals

Full Breakfast

Be My Guest Dining

Meals

Full Breakfast

Be My Guest Dining

Optional Experiences

Galway Castle Banquet

Join us on a drive to Galway Castle where you'll begin your evening of medieval entertainment. This will be accompanied by a delicious dinner where wine will flow, and you’ll be treated to songs and the marvellous Irish art of story-telling.

Heading north stop in the town of Knock to view the Marian Shrine. See the grave of Irish poet W.B. Yeats in the churchyard of Drumcliff. Visit the town of Donegal and view the castle which was once the stronghold of the O'Donnell Clan. Later arrive in Sligo.

Hotel

Clarion/Fitzwilton

Meals

Full Breakfast

Hotel

Clarion/Fitzwilton

Meals

Full Breakfast

Optional Experiences

Luxurious River Shannon Cruise

The longest river in the British Isles, the River Shannon is immortalised in songs and legends. Come with us for a cruise on this majestic river, through the beautiful rolling countryside of counties Leitrim and Roscommon. You’ll also enjoy refreshments on the luxurious Moon River Pleasure Cruiser.

Adult Price: €30.00

Scenic Drive And Dinner

This evening you’ll discover the beauty of the land, as we take a scenic drive off the beaten track. Later, enjoy dinner in a local restaurant with a choice of drink included.

Adult Price: €45.00

Day 8

Day 9

Sligo – DublinDay 9 - Sligo – Dublin

Travel back to Dublin where you will have time to explore this lively city. Walk down Grafton Street and see the street performers and musicians or walk the banks of the River Liffey and cross the Ha’penny Bridge. Tonight join your fellow travellers for a Farewell Dinner.

Available Departures

Please see http://www.trafalgar.com:80/nz/tours/best-of-ireland for the latest discounts & departure information.

The Trafalgar Difference

Be My Guest
Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea with Banoffee and Baileys flavours in the Old Kitchens of a stately 16th century home near the charming town of Westport

Cultural Insights
Explore the tragic history of Ireland's famine emigration at the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience, a replica of one of the original famine ships used in the 1800s, and learn how delicate Irish crystal is crafted at the House of Waterford Crystal during a workshop tour

Join Trafalgar
Travel Today, Sustain Tomorrow - Visit to the Glasnevin Cemetery Museum in Dublin, where an expert historian will reveal the cemetery's importance to Irish history and explain how your visit helps fund its preservation.

Sightseeing Highlights

City tour in Dublin

Orientation of Waterford, Killarney, Limerick, Galway and Donegal

Visit the Glasnevin Trust in Dublin, Famine Ship in New Ross, the crystal showroom at Waterford, Blarney to kiss the stone and gain the 'gift of the gab', Adare, Bunratty folk park, Cliffs of Moher, the rugged Burren, mystical Connemara, Kylemore Abbey, the Marian Shrine at Knock and County Donegal

View St. Patrick's Cathedral and Phoenix Park in Dublin, King John's Castle and St. Mary's Cathedral in Limerick and Donegal Castle

See the Cathedral of Galway

Scenic drives along the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula

What's Included

Dining

9 full breakfasts

5 dinners

1 cream tea
(Be My Guest)

What's Included

Travel Highlights

Audio Headsets for flexible sightseeing

Daily breakfast and an average of 50% of evening meals

Luxury air-conditioned coach with WiFi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)

The Trafalgar Experience

Simply Authentic

Enjoy

Enjoy the wonder of travel, crisscrossing the globe through the seasons. On effortless adventures in breathtaking new horizons, forge lifelong friendships and memories. Our lovingly crafted itineraries are a fascinating mosaic of cultures, flavours, festivals and local stories. We’re with you all the way, guiding you and ensuring you experience the real thing: the sheer love of travel, entirely hassle-free.

Simply Authentic

Love... Travel

"Is simply the best way to position what our guests love to experience and what we love to deliver" - Gavin Tollman CEO

Simply Authentic

Meet

Meet warm-hearted locals and like-minded travellers. Along your journey of discovery, stop to share stories and flavours with local farmers, chefs and winemakers. Pause to admire the handicrafts and rich traditions of amazing artisans. Explore the essence of Europe through captivating accounts shared by expert historians and savvy local guides.

Simply Authentic

Taste

Travelling with your tastebuds, treating them to new flavours, spices and textures along the way. From the very first breakfast to the last nightcap, travelling through Europe indulges your palate, with every meal an opportunity to discover regional fare. Savour each new flavour, try the local tipple and take home fresh culinary inspiration. Let us share our love for food and hospitality with you.

Simply Authentic

Unwind

Once you've packed your suitcase, we take care of the rest, removing all your concerns so that you can be secure in the knowledge that an award-winning global company with an impeccable reputation has taken care of every little detail. We arrange everything you'll need along your journey - meals, accommodation and travel logistics, because we are with you all the way. Travel the world with peace of mind, knowing you’re in the hands of Trafalgar.

Guest Reviews and Ratings

it was well organized and very fun. the tour covered so much and guide was very informative and helpful.

Trip:

Service:

Service rating : This was my second time traveling with Trafalgar and it was even better than before. I wasn't sure what to expect going into the tour as it was my first time ever traveling solo, but it was beyond my expectations in every way. My group was incredible, our driver was so

Trip:

Service:

Service rating : The tour was well organized, the tour director knowledgable and VERY HELPFUL.Product : Wonderful experience, great itinerary!

Trip:

Service:

Service rating : Good quality and very knowledgeable of country. Hotel Ck in. Was so easyProduct : Learnedvalot. The people

Trip:

Service:

Service rating : The tour Director, Bernard Creegan was absolutely fantastic. very knowlegable and funny to boot. We were delayed on our trip due to the hurricane that hit Florida on the day our plane was supposed to leave. Bernard kept in touch. We also had the fine fortune of meeting

Reverse Itinerary: This trip also operates in reverse please see Best of Ireland Reverse IRBOR for additional Sunday departures. All sightseeing and inclusions will remain as described.

Trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discount. Discounts are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice.

Trip prices are correct at the time of the products going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. All trip information is correct at time of trips going live, however are subject to change - please confirm all details at time of booking.

Twin-share option not available for trips to South America, Costa Rica, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii or for any holiday & cruise combination, or in Asia and Eastern Mediterranean except Highlights of Turkey (without cruise) & Best of Turkey. It's also not available on Small Group trips. Guided Vacations included in this restriction are Newfoundland and Labrador (DNLA) as well as Panama, the Canal & Beyond (LPAN).

For trips that are part of our Guaranteed Room Share, please note that there is a no smoking policy in all shared rooms. Solo travel is not accepted on guided Family Experiences holidays unless travelling as part of a family group.